The Australian Government is launching a national roadshow in Adelaide today to take life-saving bowel cancer screening directly to communities.
At the centre of the roadshow is the Loo Post – Mail that saves lives, an immersive walkthrough that shows just how quick, simple and potentially life-saving it is to complete and return the free home screening kit.
Delivered in partnership with Think HQ, the Loo Post will travel around the country to helping break down the stigma, confusion and hesitation that stop them from screening.
By walking people through the simple steps - prepare, collect, store and send - the roadshow turns an often-avoided topic into a practical conversation about early detection.
This year marks 20 years of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. More than 17,700 cancers have been detected, and those diagnosed through screening are 40% less likely to die from the disease.
But participation remains low. Currently, less than half (42 per cent) of Australians do their bowel cancer screening test. If participation increases to 60 per cent, 84,000 lives could be saved by 2040.
Bowel cancer often develops without symptoms, which is why regular screening matters.
Australians aged 45 to 74 can complete a free bowel screening test at home every two years.
Kits are automatically sent to those aged 50 to 74, while people aged 45 to 49 can request one online.
The Roadshow launches at 10:00am on Friday 26 June in Rundle Mall, Adelaide.
The roadshow will also appear at major sporting and community events around the country with a full list of locations available at https://www.cancer.org.au/bowelscreening
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Albanese Government is launching this roadshow because too many eligible Australians are still putting this test aside.
“This roadshow aims to cut stigma, show how simple it is, and remind people that returning their free kit could save their life.
“The message is simple: when your screening kit arrives in the mail, do the test and send it back. It could make all the difference.”
Associate Professor of Colorectal Surgery and colorectal surgeon, Tarik Sammour, said:
"As a colorectal surgeon, I often see the harsh reality of bowel cancer - it’s Australia’s second deadliest cancer.
“But the good news is that it doesn't have to be, because over 90 per cent of cases can be successfully treated if detected early.
“This is why events on the ground like Adelaide’s Rundle Mall 'Loo Post' are so brilliant. They strip away the medical jargon and remove stigma, and show people how quick the at-home test is.”